Page 128 of The Christmas Invitation
‘What are we all doing tomorrow?’ asked Henry, changing the subject. ‘I know you young ones are going to Underhill in the morning, to help Mark.’
‘Yes, if the road is clear enough I’ll run us all up there. Zelda’s staying on but I’ll bring Meg back for lunch,’ said Lex.
‘I’m hoping you might give me another sitting in the afternoon, Tottie?’ I suggested.
‘I don’t see why not,’ she agreed.
‘I’m steaming full ahead with my memoirs,’ said Clara. ‘I’m going to finish the current volume, before starting my next crime novel.’
‘Thereisto be another volume, then?’ enquired Tottie.
‘Oh, yes, because I feel that finding Meg heralds the start of a new chapter in our lives, don’t you?’
‘I do,’ agreed Henry. ‘And now my own work is finished, bar the final polishing, perhaps I might also start a second volume: about the village coming back like a ghost during the last dry spell.’
‘It really did look odd when walls and ruined houses started to reappear,’ Tottie said.
‘I wish I’d seen that,’ said River.
‘I’ve got some photographs in the library. I’ll show them to you later,’ she promised.
‘I’ll be the village postman as well tomorrow,’ said Henry, and River offered to go with him to help.
‘What about me?’ asked Teddy. ‘Shall I come to Underhill, Uncle Lex, or be a postman with Henry and River?’
‘Den said earlier that he’d really like some help in the kitchen tomorrow morning,’ River said. ‘It wassomething about a chocolate log, and that he was counting on you.’
‘Oh, yes, the log!’ Teddy exclaimed. ‘I’d forgotten we were going to make that.’
Den threw open the door and ushered Piers through it with a mock bow and the words, ‘’Ere’s ’is nibs down fer ’is dinner.’
Piers must have applied cold water to his hair, for it lay in flat, dull white locks across his head. His glacial eyes watered and he was preceded by a strong smell of brandy.
‘Light blue touchpaper and retire,’ suggested Den.
Lass, fixing her eyes on Piers, growled low in her throat. It was quite impressive for a dog who spent most of her time either eating or fast asleep. Wisty and Pansy, curled up in a heap before the fire, took no notice at all.
‘Den, I’ll help you with the chocolate log tomorrow,’ Teddy offered.
‘I was counting on it, Teddy, wasn’t I? And I’ve made you a treat for dinner – a rabbit.’
This seemed unlikely, but Piers brightened up.
‘I’m partial to a bit of jugged hare, or rabbit with mustard sauce.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ said Clara. ‘It’s a pink blancmange rabbit for afters, isn’t it, Den?’
‘That’s right. There’s rice pud fer anyone who don’t fancy that.’
‘Hare today and gone tomorrow,’ joked Tottie, and we all groaned.
‘Is no one going to offer me a drink?’ said Piers.
‘Dinner’s ready, ain’t it?’ Den said, brandishing the gong. ‘And yer already smell like a distillery.’
‘Let’s all go in,’ Henry said, hastily getting up, and we all followed suit.
I’d never seen Sybil wearing anything but riding clothes before, but tonight she’d put on a wrap dress in an old gold colour that suited her very well.
